Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park protects the historic C&O Canal corridor along the Potomac River, preserving towpath and canal-era structures between Washington, D.C., and Cumberland, Maryland. The park commemorates 19th-century inland navigation and canal engineering.

Construction of the C&O Canal began in the late 1820s with the aim of connecting the Chesapeake Bay with the Ohio River via the Potomac; work continued through the mid-19th century and commercial canal traffic declined by the early 20th century. The corridor was later preserved and interpreted for its historical and recreational value.

The park follows the Potomac River from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., northwest along the river valley to Cumberland, Maryland, passing through suburban, rural, and gorge landscapes along the way.

• Towpath conditions: The towpath is popular with long-distance hikers and cyclists; some segments are unpaved and can be muddy after rain, so footwear and bike tires should be chosen accordingly.

What to See #

• Towpath: A 184.5-mile historic towpath that runs from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland, used today for hiking, biking, and interpreting 19th-century canal infrastructure.
• Paw Paw Tunnel: A nearly 3,118-foot hand-excavated engineering work that allowed the canal to pass through a rocky ridge; it remains a notable feat of 19th-century canal construction.
• Locks and lockhouses: Several preserved canal locks, lockhouses, and interpretive areas near Great Falls and along the Potomac that illustrate canal operation and early transportation history.